01/16/17:</br>Sumi Tonooka | Russell Malone

Sumi Tonooka opened our jazz salon series here last July. She returns on Martin Luther King Day with jazz guitar master Russell Malone for an evening of duets—frets and keys.

You might think of Russell Malone from his history with vocalists like Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves. His lyrical phrasing typically suggests the singing voice. 

I try to do with my guitar what they do with their voices, including breathing. It’s very easy not to breathe when you’re playing a piano or guitar. You can play all these notes. … But I want that human quality.

But he also has an illustrious history with keyboardists--Jimmy Smith, Monty Alexander, Mulgrew Miller, Benny Green, Kenny Barron for example.

I like playing with a really good pianist. I've had the good fortune to play with a few. If they're listening and they don't get in the way, it's a lot of fun. A lot of times when a guitarist and a pianist play together, it can become disastrous if they’re not listening and they're not sensitive.

You already know Sumi Tonooka whose albums chronicle twin trajectories as a formidable performer and composer.

A Philly native, Sumi has worked in Seattle the last couple of years composing chamber and symphonic works while finding time to found the Alchemy Sound Project—an ensemble of jazz composers whose recent album just won praises from Downbeat.

Sumi and Russell unite here with a program of originals, some Ellington and Monk and also some seldom-heard works of other jazz composers.

We are talking about two artists at the height of their considerable powers whose core values of listening, beauty, swing, musicianship and authenticity are shared ones. Together @exuberance—this sounds about as good as it gets. 

@exuberance parties at Matt’s are by invitation only to provide a dignified, comfortable and acoustically ideal setting for worthwhile art and ideas. Cellphones and other devices are to be holstered during the performances. Between sets, conviviality rules.